Retrospect

We make a map within our head
of where our path of life will lead
until we find the trail we tread
is nowhere near the place we thought
as promises and pride proceed
to keep our tether taut

preventing us from seeking out
that distant spot of which we dreamed
another bind, another bout
of unexpected stress and then
the road is shorter than it seemed
way back when.

Thorny

The sarcasm drips
right off your lips
like dew from a poisonous plant
which could be the root
of why people scoot
whenever you roll out a rant

Indigent

If knowledge is the currency of the universe
there's one thing I can tell
I don't have to shake my purse
to know I'm broke as hell.

Rain Check

A blackbird walks with it's beak pointing down
and head gyrating side to side
as it highsteps through the rain-soaked grass
I could swear that bird is starting to frown
for all the worms have chosen to hide
until the hunter makes it's final pass.

Transferal

The giant grew nasty (as mean as a snake
that swallowed a hornytoad by mistake)
he struggled to make it (as all of us do)
lamenting the mountain of gold that he blew
and blaming each beastie (as broke as the next)
for being the reason that he was perplexed
while proof is quite plain (as the nose on his face)
that he is the cause of his current disgrace.

Beginning of the End

How can anyone with a brain
select such a person to lead
her lust for fame couldn't be more plain
a platform planked with greed

If you want America worse than now
then go and waste your vote
on the media's latest sacred cow
so another thief can gloat.

Darn It!

My dog digs dirty socks
and now his breath melts rocks
I toss him a bone
but he leaves it alone
I think he needs detox.

Dwarfed

I sit beside the quiet creek
and listen to the birds that speak
their minds in lilting melodies
as I inhale the fragrant breeze
and wonder shadowed by the cleft
how many days like this are left?

Lost Sheep

Matters are seldom as simple
as what we are led to believe
by those that should set the example
but only proceed to conceive
inventive ways to deceive
as ethics so easily crumple
and we are abandoned to grieve
destruction of the temple.

Guarded

The problem with thriving on refuge
is being too sheltered to see
that ducking all threats of a deluge
can mean you're not totally free.

Schooled

If one stuck a fish up their nose
would it be smelt?
What if they served it from their deck
would it be dealt?
And if they had the battered kind
would it look bruised?
Try munching on a clown fish
you might be amused.

Sacrificial

You'll never escape
the yoke on your nape
or brush off the need
to constantly scrape

The bane of your breed
is to service the greed
of elitists that rape
while you slowly bleed.

Slipping the Noose

The wounded can never recoup
the blankness of flesh with no scar
but take yourself out of the loop
and soon they'll forget who you are.

Patron

As graceful wisps of cottonwood dance softly on the breeze
like little fluffy fairy sprites at play
I marvel at the emerald bounty waving in the trees
and thank our earthen mother for today
forgetting all the pompous fools that pen inane decrees
so I can just enjoy the grand ballet.

Flying Lessons

I watched a pigeon take a dip
it didn't even have to strip
and then it paused to take a sip
before continuing it's trip

across the sky to who knows where
oblivious to our despair
if only we could learn to share
it's knack for knowing when to care

instead of being so consumed
with petty slights that we've presumed
as pointless enmity has bloomed
within a breed that could be doomed.